Joss Whedon's Magic Waning?

POSTED BY: serena777
UPDATED: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 07:44
VIEWED: 5795
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SERENA777

Thursday, January 26, 2006 4:36 PM

There is no doubt that JOss Whedon is a master
storyteller - just look at Buffy, Angel and Firefly.

He is a master storyteller when you have TIME
to develop the characters, situations etc.

a 2 hr movie doesn't do his story telling justice

look at the depth of the series vs. the movie

the movie was fast paced and interesting but
it couldn't go into the motivations of the characters doesn't give us time to truly fall in love with them it doesn't answer and q's.

why are they criminals?
HOw did they get together?
Why does he hate the alliance?
and why should we?

we had to draw on the series.

Movies cannot challenge Joss's talent

He will be a good 2 hr storyteller (director)

But he is the master of a 'verse so rich
that it could take 10 years to really
reach a knowledge of it.

movies aren't a true challenge to his talent
and I think he'll find when he can only touch us
every couple of years instead of once a week --that his influence or "magic" will wane

JENNJ

Thursday, January 26, 2006 4:46 PM

I agree. I'm an avid fan of both Angel and Buffy along with Firefly. I looked forward to the movie, despite having read the book before going in and hence knowing the ending, but to this day I feel like the movie was missing something. There seemed to be no real character developement or motivation. We got cheated out of alot of that when the show was cancelled and I feel like I was cheated again.

USELESSROCKER

Thursday, January 26, 2006 5:03 PM

The title of this thread is rather misleading. Whedon had to take NINE characters, each with their own distinct personalities and motivations and put them all together in a two hour movie.

Firefly's story, universe and characters were originally designed for a television series, thus it is completely impossible to have important plot points of character development for each of the nine.

Joss has not lost his magic. With Serenity he was forced to jam a square peg into a round hole, combining two somewhat inherently incompatible mediums, and, frankly, I think he did an admirable job.

How long do you think Serenity would have been if Joss had included some fleshed-out, meaningful character development for each and every member of the crew?

SERENA777

Thursday, January 26, 2006 5:21 PM

That's my point -- his kind of meaningful storytelling is lost on the movies.

He did a good job as a director

he does a masterful job at a series.

look at the movie industry lately - not
doing so hot - why choose this venue
when it doesn't frame his talents
properly?

THEOPERATIVE2005

Thursday, January 26, 2006 5:30 PM

He picked this venue - motion pictures - because that was where he was going to be able to continue to tell his story.

If he could've he would've kept it on television, but after shopping it around no one wanted to touch it.

Hence, the movie.

THEOPERATIVE2005

Thursday, January 26, 2006 5:30 PM

He picked this venue - motion pictures - because that was where he was going to be able to continue to tell his story.

If he could've he would've kept it on television, but after shopping it around no one wanted to touch it.

Hence, the movie.

THESOMNAMBULIST

Thursday, January 26, 2006 5:37 PM

I disagree about there not being any character development in Serenity. It hasn't the level of development of Firefly but that's because Firefly spanned fourteen episodes.

The comparison doesn't equate.

Give Joss another six films based around Serenity and then see how much character development there would be.

But lets take the pilot episode of Firefly and compare that with Serenity the film. What d'ya reckon?

I'd say it's proportional to the time you're given to tell the story.

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

LUTHIEN1121

Thursday, January 26, 2006 5:41 PM

As someone who saw the movie before seeing any series eps, I both agree and disagree with this. I loved the movie. I found the 'verse intrigueing, loved the use of language and the interesting future history, and thought he did a pretty good job of character development for having to cram 9 people into a 2hr movie. The exposition at the beginning with River dreaming at the Academy plus subsequent scenes with the agent and Jayne's comment about how many of Mal's platoon survived the battle were enough to make me not like the Alliance.

Of course, I realized that there was a whole background that I was missing. None of my friends owned the DVDs yet and I was #50 or so on the library hold list (I'd put a hold on it in August when I was #113), so while I wanted to see the series first I didn't have the opportunity.

Anyway, for me as a complete stranger to the 'verse, it was a good hook to see the series!

Adding an afterthought:

there was another challenge as well. How do you tell a story with enough background to hook those like me who'd never seen the series, and yet move the story along enough to keep the interest of those who already *know* the background? I think Joss did a great job on both counts.

We're gonna explode? I don't wanna explode!

DATALESS

Thursday, January 26, 2006 6:45 PM

I think Serenity is the most amazing piece of story telling. I saw Firefly first on fox. I have TiVo powers so I never missed an episode. I know first hand how amazingly horrible fox failed Firefly. As we all know they aired the episode Serenity last, but it was that moment I really understood what the show could be. The movie isn't the same as the series would have been. I think it would have taken at least 3 seasons to get to the point where the moive ended, but I think it would have happened very much the same. We would have learned more about the Big Damn Heroes but we still have that chance. In novel, comic, and movie form. Personally I welcome the chance to read, see or even write a story as long as I get more Firefly/Serenity. I hope every one who calls them selves a Browncoat would feel the same (I understand if you feel can't write.) This way there will always be something out there that we can call Firefly/Serenity. If you feel like the movie failed you insome way write your own episodes. Create the on going series for all of us to read or see if you can film it. I have to say that would be very cool. If any one does write I would love to read it. Please let us know.

KNIBBLET

Thursday, January 26, 2006 7:19 PM

With apologies to Jayne ... I smell a lot of troll comin off this poster.

She pops up as a member today and both her posts made the hairs on the nape of my neck stand up.

Also see "does joss have the cajones".

Quote:
Originally posted by serena777:
movies aren't a true challenge to his talent
and I think he'll find when he can only touch us
every couple of years instead of once a week --that his influence or "magic" will wane

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/ Big Damn Shindigity Good Time
http://www.fireflytalk.com - Big Damn Podcast

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